Supervisor John Avalos made a motion to go with Waggoner instead of Turman. “It is important to have a more reform-minded commissioner on our Police Commission,” Avalos said, adding that he would like to have a “little more creative tension” on the body that oversees the operations of the police department.

Four progressive supervisors backed Waggoner, but Supervisor David Campos -- who is usually part of the progressive bloc -- went with Turman. “Turman is someone I think a lot of people don’t know and the person that I am supporting is an individual who has a great deal of integrity,” Campos said. He has said that he has known Turman for a while.

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu said he had known Turman for more than a decade and that Turman was “deeply committed” to civil rights issues.

The motion to go with Waggoner was defeated in a 7-4 vote. Along with Avalos, Supervisors Jane Kim, Ross Mirkarimi and Eric Mar supported the more progressive candidate Waggoner.

Waggoner is affiliated with the more progressive LGBT political group the Harvey Milk Club, and Turman the more moderate Alice B. Toklas Club.

“[Turman] does not suffer fools. He is independent. He is reform minded and believe you me if the department needs to be held accountable no one is going to hold the department more accountable than Julius Turman,” said Supervisor Scott Wiener.

The ultimate vote to appoint Turman to the seat was approved in an 11-0 vote.